Degreasing all purpose cleaning compositions and methods

ABSTRACT

This invention encompasses compositions of surfactant-based products containing anionic and nonionic sufactants, one or more sequestering agents, a glycol solvent for the preparation of liquid cleaning compositions. The surfactant-based product may be any type of cleaning product based on surfactants, which include a sequestering agent. Specifically, the invention relates to a cleaning composition with desirable cleansing properties possessing increased grease cutting.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention is directed to compositions of surfactant-based productscontaining one or more sequestering agents for the preparation of liquidcleaning compositions. The cleaning compositions exhibit desirablecleansing properties including increased grease cutting.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In formulating cleaning compositions, typically, the cleaning materialsare made by diluting liquid or gelled materials to form a use solution.A substantial need exists to manufacture an easily used, excellent soil,e.g., grease, removal properties and controlled foaming. The materialsmay have some soil removal properties but improving grease removal andhard surface cleaners is a continuing need and requirement. Further, themanufacture of materials that produce useful foam in the presence oflarge quantities of greasy soil is a continuing challenge for thismarketplace.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It has now been found that a cleaning composition can be formulated withone or more anionic surfactants, one or more nonionic surfactants, oneor more amine oxides, one or more sequestering agents and one or moreglycolic solvents, which possesses increased grease-cutting performance.

To achieve the foregoing and other embodiments and in accordance withthe purpose of the present invention, as embodied and broadly describedherein the cleaning agent of this invention includes one or more anionicsurfactants, one or more nonionic surfactants, one or more amine oxides,one or more sequestering agents and one or more glycolic solvents, whichpossess increased grease-cutting performance.

Another embodiment of the invention encompasses a grease-cuttingcleaning agent including about 0.01% to about 15% of one or more anionicsurfactants, about 0.01% to about 10% of one or more nonionicsurfactant, about 0.01% to about 10% wt. of one or more amine oxides,about 0.01% to about 10% of one or more sequestering agents, about 0.01%to about 10% of one or more glycol solvents, and optionally containingone or more additional ingredients.

Still another embodiment of the invention encompasses a method ofcleaning a surface especially removing grease from a surface, includingburnt on grease, which includes contacting the surface with a cleaningagent including one or more anionic surfactants, one or more nonionicsurfactants, one or more amine oxides, one or more sequestering agents,one or more glycol solvents, which possess increased grease-cuttingperformance.

The invention also encompasses a method of making a cleaning compositionwith superior grease-cutting performance, which includes combining about0.01% to about 15% of one or more anionic surfactants, about 0.01% toabout 10% of one or more nonionic surfactant, about 0.01% to about 10%of one or more amine oxides, about 0.01% to about 10% of one or moresequestering agents, about 0.01% to about 10% of one or more glycolsolvents, and optionally containing one or more additional ingredients.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As used throughout, ranges are used as shorthand for describing each andevery value that is within the range. Any value within the range can beselected as the terminus of the range. In addition, all references citedherein are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties. In theevent of a conflict in a definition in the present disclosure and thatof a cited reference, the present disclosure controls.

The present invention relates to a cleaning composition, which includes:wherein the composition surprisingly exhibits improved grease-cuttingperformance. In various embodiments, the pH is about 7 to about 14,about 8 to about 13 or about 10 to about 12, or 7, about 8, about 9,about 10, about 11, about 12, about 13, or about 14.

Anionic Surfactants

Suitable water-soluble non-soap, anionic surfactants include thosesurface-active or detergent compounds that contain an organichydrophobic group containing generally 8 to 26 carbon atoms and incertain embodiments 10 to 1.8 carbon atoms in their molecular structureand at least one water-solubilizing group, which in certain embodimentsis sulfonate group.

In certain embodiments, the hydrophobic group may include a C₈-C₂₂alkyl, alkyl or acyl group. Such surfactants are employed in the form ofwater-soluble salts and the salt-forming cation may be sodium,potassium, ammonium, magnesium and mono-, di- or tri-C₂-C₃alkanolammonium.

Examples of suitable sulfonated anionic surfactants include higher alkylmononuclear aromatic sulfonates such as the higher alkyl benzenesulfonates containing 10 to 16 carbon atoms in the higher alkyl group ina straight or branched chain, C₈-C₁₅ alkyl toluene sulfonates and C₈-C₁₅alkyl phenol sulfonates.

In certain embodiments, the sulfonate surfactant is a linear alkylbenzene sulfonate having a high content of 3-(or higher) phenyl isomersand a correspondingly low content (well below 50%) of 2-(or lower)phenyl isomers, that is, wherein the benzene ring is attached in largepart at the 3 or higher (for example, 4, 5, 6 or 7) position of thealkyl group and the content of the isomers in which the benzene ring isattached in the 2 or 1 position is correspondingly low. Examples ofmaterials are set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 3,320,174.

Other suitable anionic surfactants include the olefin sulfonates,including long-chain alkene sulfonates, long-chain hydroxyalkanesulfonates or mixtures of alkene sulfonates and hydroxyalkanesulfonates. These olefin sulfonate detergents may be prepared in a knownmanner by the reaction of sulfur trioxide (SO₃) with long-chain olefinscontaining 8 to 25, or 12 to 21 carbon atoms and having the formula:RCH═CHR₁where R is a higher alkyl group of 6 to 23 carbons and R₁ is an alkylgroup of 1 to 17 carbons or hydrogen to form a mixture of sultones andalkene sulfonic acids which is then treated to convert the sultones tosulfonates. In certain embodiments, the olefin sulfonates contain from14 to 16 carbon atoms in the R alkyl group and are obtained bysulfonating an α-olefin.

Other examples of useful anionic surfactants include, but are notlimited to, sodium dioctyl sulfosuccinate [di-(2 ethylhexyl) sodiumsulfosuccinate being one] and corresponding dihexyl and dioctyl esters.In certain embodiments, sulfosuccinic acid ester salts are esters ofaliphatic alcohols such as saturated alkanols of 4 to 12 carbon atomsand are normally diesters of such alkanols. In other embodiments, alkalimetal salts of the diesters of alcohols of 6 to 10 carbons atoms areutilized and in further embodiments, the diesters will be from octanol,such as 2-ethyl hexanol, and the sulfonic acid salt will be the sodiumsalt.

Other anionic sulfonate surfactants that can be used in the compositionsand methods of the invention are paraffin sulfonates containing, invarious embodiments, 10 to 20 or 13 to 17 carbon atoms. Primary paraffinsulfonates may be made by reacting long-chain alpha olefins andbisulfites and paraffin sulfonates having the sulfonate groupdistributed along the paraffin chain are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos.2,503,280; 2,507,088; 3,260,744; 3,372,188; and German Patent 735,096.

Of the foregoing non-soap anionic sulfonate surfactants, certainillustrative embodiments utilize a magnesium salt of the C₁₃-C₁₇paraffin or alkane sulfonates. Another example of a useful anionicsurfactant is a sodium salt of C₁₂-C₁₃ pareth sulfate.

Generally, the proportion of the nonsoap-anionic surfactant will be, invarious embodiments, about 0.1 to about 15%, about 0.5 to about 10%,about 1 to about 8%, about 1.1 to about 7%, about 1.2 to about 5%, orabout 1.2% by weight of the composition.

Amine Oxides

The compositions of the invention also include at least one amine oxide.The amine oxides are semi-polar nonionic surfactants, which includecompounds and mixtures of compounds having the formula:

wherein R₁ is an alkyl, 2-hydroxyalkyl, 3-hydroxyalkyl, or3-alkoxy-2-hydroxypropyl radical in which the alkyl and alkoxy,respectively, contain from 8 to 18 carbon atoms, R₂ and R₃ are eachindependently methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, 2-hydroxyethyl,2-hydroxypropyl, or 3-hydroxypropyl (R₂ and R₃ may be the same ordifferent); and n is 0 to 10.

In certain embodiments, the compositions of the present inventioncomprise an amine oxide of the formula:

wherein R₈ is a C₁₂₋₁₆ alkyl group or amido radical:

wherein R₁₁ is an alkyl group having 9 to 19 carbon atoms and a is aninteger of 1 to 4 and R₉ and R₁₀ are each independently methyl or ethyl.The above ethylene oxide condensates, amides, and amine oxides are morefully described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,316,824, which is hereby incorporatedherein by reference. In illustrative embodiments, the amine oxide maybe, for example, a lauryol amine oxide, a cocoamido propyl amine oxide,a cocoamido propyl dimethyl amine oxide, a lauryl/myristil amidopropyldiethylamine oxide, a lauryl/myristyl amido propyl amine oxide or amixture of any of the foregoing.

In various embodiments, the amine oxide is present in an amount of about0.1 to about 10%, about 0.2 to about 5%, about 0.25 to about 3%, about0.3% or about 1.1% of the composition.

Nonionic Surfactants

The compositions of the present invention may include nonionicsurfactants in addition to the amine oxides discussed above. The watersoluble nonionic surfactants useful for the present invention mayinclude aliphatic ethoxylated nonionic surfactants, for example, thosethat are commercially well known and include the primary aliphaticalcohol ethoxylates and secondary aliphatic alcohol ethoxylates. Thelength of the polyethenoxy chain can be adjusted to achieve the desiredbalance between the hydrophobic and hydrophilic elements.

The nonionic surfactant class also may include the condensation productsof a higher alcohol (e.g., an alkanol containing about 8 to 16 carbonatoms in a straight or branched chain configuration) condensed withabout 4 to about 20 moles of ethylene oxide, for example, lauryl ormyristyl alcohol condensed with about 16 moles of ethylene oxide (EO),tridecanol condensed with about 6 to about 15 moles of EO, myristylalcohol condensed with about 10 moles of EO per mole of myristylalcohol, the condensation product of EO) with a cut of coconut fattyalcohol containing a mixture of fatty alcohols with alkyl chains varyingfrom 10 to about 14 carbon atoms in length and wherein the condensatecontains either about 6 moles of EO per mole of total alcohol or about 9moles of EO per mole of alcohol and tallow alcohol ethoxylatescontaining about 6 EO to about 11 EO per mole of alcohol.

Illustrative examples of the foregoing nonionic surfactants include, butare not limited to, the Neodol® or Dobanol® ethoxylates (Shell Co.),which are higher aliphatic, primary alcohol containing 9 to 15 carbonatoms, such as C₉-C₁₁ alkanol condensed with about 4 to about 10 molesof ethylene oxide (Neodol 91-8®, Dobanol 91-8®, Neodol 91-5®) or about2.5 moles of ethylene oxide (Neodol 91-2.5® or Dobanol 91-2.5®, C₁₂-C₁₃alkanol condensed with about 6.5 moles ethylene oxide (Neodol 23-6.5®),C₁₂-C₁₅ alkanol condensed with about 12 moles ethylene oxide (Neodol25-12®), C₁₄-C₁₅ alkanol condensed with about 13 moles ethylene oxide(Neodol 45-13®), and the like. Such ethoxamers have an HLB (hydrophobiclipophilic balance) value of about 8 to about 15 and give good O/Wemulsification, whereas ethoxamers with HLB values below 7 contain lessthan 4 ethyleneoxide groups and tend to be poor emulsifiers and poordetergents. As used throughout the present disclosure, the trade names“Neodol” and “Dobanol” can be used interchangeably to refer to the samecompounds, with the respective trade names used according to thegeographies in which they are available.

Additional satisfactory water soluble alcohol ethylene oxide condensatesinclude, but are not limited to, the condensation products of asecondary aliphatic alcohol containing 8 to 18 carbon atoms in astraight or branched chain configuration condensed with 5 to 30 moles ofethylene oxide. Examples of commercially available nonionic detergentsof the foregoing type include C₁₁-C₁₅ secondary alkanol condensed witheither 9 EO (Tergitol 15-S-9®) or 12 EO (Tergitol 15-S-12®) marketed byUnion Carbide (USA).

The water soluble nonionic surfactants, which can be utilized in thisinvention, also include aliphatic ethoxylated/propoxylated nonionicsurfactants, such as those depicted by the formulas:

wherein R is a branched chain alkyl group having about 10 to about 16carbon atoms, or an isotridecyl group and x and y are independentlynumbered from 0 to 20. In certain embodiments, theethoxylated/propoxylated nonionic surfactant is Plurafac®300manufactured by BASF (New Jersey, USA).

In various embodiments, the compositions of the present inventioncontain about 0.01% to 10%, or about 0.5% to 6% of an nonionicsurfactant.

Sequestrants/Sequestering Agents

The cleaning compositions of the invention may contain an organic orinorganic sequestrant or mixtures of sequestrants (also referred to as“sequestering agents”). In various embodiments, the sequestrant is asequestrant of metallic cations. Organic sequestrants such as citricacid, the alkali metal salts of nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA), EDTA,alkali metal gluconates, polyelectrolytes such as a polyacrylic acid,and the like can be used in the compositions described herein. Incertain embodiments, sequestrants are organic sequestrants such assodium gluconate due to the compatibility of the sequestrant with theformulation base.

The sequestering agents of the invention may also include an effectiveamount of a water-soluble organic phosphonic acid alkali metal salt,which has sequestering properties. In certain embodiments, phosphonicacid alkali metal salts include low molecular weight compoundscontaining at least two anion-forming groups, at least one of which is aphosphonic acid group. Such useful phosphonic acids include mono-, di-,tri- and tetra-phosphonic acids which can also contain groups capable offorming anions under alkaline conditions such as carboxy, hydroxy, thioand the like. Among these are phosphonic acid alkali metal salts havingthe formulae:N[CH₂PO₃Na₄]₃ or C(PO₃Na₄)₂OH.

The phosphonic acid may also include a low molecular weightphosphonopolycarboxylic acid such as one having about 2-4 carboxylicacid moieties and about 1-3 phosphonic acid groups. Such acids include1-phosphono-1-methylsuccinic acid, phosphonosuccinic acid and2-phosphonobutane-1,2,4-tricarboxylic acid.

Other useful organic phosphonic acid sodium salts include1-hydroxyethylidene-1,1-diphosphonic acid (CH₃C(PO₃Na₄)₂OH) and itssodium salt, available from Monsanto Industrial Chemicals Co., Missouri,USA. as Dequest® 2016, a 58-62% aqueous solution; amino[tri(methylenephosphonic acid)] (N[CH₂PO₃Na₄]₃), available from Monsantoas Dequest® 2000, a 50% aqueous solution; ethylenediamine[tetra(methylene-phosphonic acid)] available from Monsanto as Dequest®2041, a 90% solid acid product; and2-phosphonobutane-1,2,4-tricarboxylic acid available from Mobay ChemicalCorporation, Inorganic Chemicals Division, Pittsburgh, Pa. as BayhibitAM, a 45-50% aqueous solution. It will be appreciated that, theabove-mentioned phosphonic acids can also be used in the form ofwater-soluble acid salts, particularly the alkali metal salts, such assodium or potassium; the ammonium salts or the alkylol amine salts wherethe alkylol has 2 to 3 carbon atoms, such as mono-, di-, ortri-ethanolamine salts. If desired, mixtures of the individualphosphonic acids or their acid salts can also be used. Further usefulphosphonic acids are discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,051,058, thedisclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein. Of thephosphonic acids useful in the present invention, those that do notcontain amino groups are preferred, since they produce substantiallyless degradation of the active chlorine source than do phosphonic acidsincluding amino groups.

Sequestrants of the invention also include materials such as, forexample, complex phosphate sequestrants, including sodiumtripolyphosphate, sodium hexametaphosphate, and the like, as well asmixtures thereof. Phosphates, the sodium condensed phosphate hardnesssequestering agent component functions as a water softener, a cleaner,and a detergent builder. Alkali metal (M) linear and cyclic condensedphosphates commonly have a M₂O:P₂O₅ mole ratio of about 1:1 to 2:1 andgreater. Typical polyphosphates of this kind are sodiumtripolyphosphate, sodium hexametaphosphate, sodium metaphosphate as wellas corresponding potassium salts of these phosphates and mixturesthereof. The particle size of the phosphate is not critical, and anyfinely divided or granular commercially available product can beemployed.

Sodium tripolyphosphate is a preferred inorganic hardness sequesteringagent for reasons of its ease of availability, low cost, and highcleaning power. Sodium tripolyphosphate acts to sequester calcium and/ormagnesium cations, providing water softening properties. It contributesto the removal of soil from hard surfaces and keeps soil in suspension.It has little corrosive action on common surface materials and is low incost compared to other water conditioners. Sodium tripolyphosphate hasrelatively low solubility in water (about 14 wt %) and its concentrationmust be increased using means other than solubility. Typical examples ofsuch phosphates being alkaline condensed phosphates (i.e.,polyphosphates) such as sodium or potassium pyrophosphate, sodium orpotassium tripolyphosphate, sodium or potassium hexametaphosphate, etc.;carbonates such as sodium or potassium carbonate; borates, such assodium borate; etc.

Solvents

Typical solvents useful for the present embodiments include aqueoussoluble, miscible or immiscible. Solvents can include aliphatic andaromatic hydrocarbons, chlorinated hydrocarbons, alcohols, ethercompounds, fluorocarbon compounds, and other similar low molecularweight generally volatile liquid materials.

In certain embodiments, water is not a solvent but when used acts as adiluent or as a dispersing medium for the active materials. Thesematerials can be used in solution or as a miscible mixture or as adispersion of the solvent in the aqueous liquid. A solvent or cosolventcan be used to enhance certain soil removal properties of thisinvention. Cosolvents include alcohols and the mono and di-alkyl ethersof alkylene glycols, dialkylene glycols, trialkylene glycols, etc.Alcohols that are useful as cosolvents in this invention includemethanol, ethanol, propanol and isopropanol. Particularly useful are themono and dialkyl ethers of ethylene glycol and diethylene glycol, whichhave acquired trivial names such as polyglymes, cellosolves, andcarbitols. Representative examples of this class of cosolvent includemethyl cellosolves, butyl carbitol, dibutyl carbitol, diglyme, triglyme,etc. Nonaqueous liquid solvents can be used for varying compositions ofthe present invention. These include the higher glycols, polyglycols,polyoxides and glycol ethers.

Suitable substances include glycol solvents (including glycol ethers orglycol acetates) such as, for example, propylene glycol, polyethyleneglycol, polypropylene glycol, diethylene glycol monoethyl ether,diethylene glycol monopropyl ether, diethylene glycol monobutyl ether,tripropylene glycol methyl ether, propylene glycol methyl ether (PM),dipropylene glycol methyl ether (DPM), propylene glycol methyl etheracetate (PMA), dipropylene glycol methyl ether acetate (CPMA), propyleneglycol n-butyl ether, dipropylene glycol monobutyl ether, ethyleneglycol n-butyl ether and ethylene glycol n-propyl ether, andcombinations thereof. In certain embodiments, the glycol solvent ispropylene glycol n-butyl ether. In certain embodiments, the glycolsolvent is dipropylene glycol monobutyl ether.

Other useful solvents include ethylene oxide/propylene oxide, liquidrandom copolymer such as Synalox® solvent series from Dow Chemical(e.g., Synalox® 50-50B); propylene glycol ethers such as PnB, DPnB andTPnB (propylene glycol mono n-butyl ether, dipropylene glycol andtripropylene glycol mono n-butyl ethers sold by Dow Chemical under thetrade name Dowanol.RTM.); and tripropylene glycol mono methyl ether“Dowanol TPM®” from Dow Chemical.

The final ingredient in the inventive cleaning compositions is water.The proportion of water in the compositions generally is in the range ofabout 35% to 90% or about 50% to 85% by weight of the cleaningcomposition.

Optional Agents

The compositions may optionally contain one or more additionalsurfactants such as anionic, amphoteric, zwitterionic, nonionic,cationic, or combinations thereof.

The anionic surfactant may be any of the anionic surfactants known orpreviously used in the art of aqueous surfactant compositions. Suitableanionic surfactants include, but are not limited to, alkyl sulfates,alkyl ether sulfates, alkaryl sulfonates, alkyl succinates, alkylsulfosuccinates, N-alkoyl sarcosinates, alkyl phosphates, alkyl etherphosphates, alkyl ether carboxylates, alkylamino acids, alkyl peptides,alkoyl taurates, carboxylic acids, acyl and alkyl glutamates, alkylisethionates, and alpha-olefin sulfonates, especially their sodium,potassium, magnesium, ammonium and mono-, di- and triethanolamine salts.The alkyl groups generally contain from 8 to 18 carbon atoms and may beunsaturated. The alkyl ether sulfates, alkyl ether phosphates and alkylether carboxylates may contain from 1 to 10 ethylene oxide or propyleneoxide units per molecule, and in certain embodiments contain 1 to 3ethylene oxide units per molecule.

Examples of suitable anionic surfactants include sodium and ammoniumlauryl ether sulfate (with 1, 2, and 3 moles of ethylene oxide), sodium,ammonium, and triethanolamine lauryl sulfate, disodium laurethsulfosuccinate, sodium cocoyl isethionate, sodium C12-14 olefinsulfonate, sodium laureth-6 carboxylate, sodium C12-15 pareth sulfate,sodium methyl cocoyl taurate, sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate, sodiumcocoyl sarcosinate, triethanolamine monolauryl phosphate, and fatty acidsoaps.

The nonionic surfactant can be any of the nonionic surfactants known orpreviously used in the art of aqueous surfactant compositions. Suitablenonionic surfactants include but are not limited to aliphatic (C₆-C₁₈)primary or secondary linear or branched chain acids, alcohols orphenols, alkyl ethoxylates, alkyl phenol alkoxylates (especiallyethoxylates and mixed ethoxy/propoxy), block alkylene oxide condensateof alkyl phenols, alkylene oxide condensates of alkanols, ethyleneoxide/propylene oxide block copolymers, semi-polar nonionics (e.g.,amine oxides and phospine oxides), as well as alkyl amine oxides. Othersuitable nonionics include mono or dialkyl alkanolamides and alkylpolysaccharides, sorbitan fatty acid esters, polyoxyethylene sorbitanfatty acid esters, polyoxyethylene sorbitol esters, polyoxyethyleneacids, and polyoxyethylene alcohols. Examples of suitable nonionicsurfactants include coco mono or diethanolamide, coco diglucoside, alkylpolyglucoside, cocamidopropyl and lauramine oxide, polysorbate 20,ethoxylated linear alcohols, cetearyl alcohol, lanolin alcohol, stearicacid, glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate, and oleth 20.

Amphoteric and zwitterionic surfactants are those compounds which havethe capacity of behaving either as an acid or a base. These surfactantscan be any of the surfactants known or previously used in the art ofaqueous surfactant compositions. Suitable materials include but are notlimited to alkyl betaines, alkyl amidopropyl betaines, alkylsulphobetaines, alkyl glycinates, alkyl carboxyglycinates, alkylamphopropionates, alkyl amidopropyl hydroxysultaines, acyl taurates andacyl glutamates wherein the alkyl and acyl groups have 8 to 18 carbonatoms. Examples include cocamidopropyl betaine, sodium cocoamphoacetate,cocamidopropyl hydroxysultaine, and sodium cocamphopropionate.

The cationic surfactants can be any of the cationic surfactants known orpreviously used in the art of aqueous surfactant compositions. Suitablecationic surfactants include but are not limited to alkyl amines, alkylimidazolines, ethoxylated amines, quaternary compounds, and quaternizedesters. In addition, alkyl amine oxides can behave as a cationicsurfactant at a low pH. Examples include lauramine oxide,dicetyldimonium chloride, and cetrimonium chloride.

Other surfactants which can be utilized in the present invention are setforth in more detail in WO 99/21530, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,929,678;4,565,647; 5,720,964; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,858,948. Other suitablesurfactants are described in McCutcheon's Emulsifiers and Detergents(North American and International Editions, by Schwartz, Perry andBerch), which is hereby fully incorporated by reference.

While amounts of additional optional surfactant can vary widely, invarious embodiments, the amount is generally about 1% to about 80%,about 5% to about 65%, about 6% to about 30% or about 8% to 20% weightbased upon the total weight of the composition.

The compositions also optionally include one or more thickeners.Suitable thickeners may be organic or inorganic in nature. The thickenermay thicken the composition by either thickening the aqueous portions ofthe composition, or by thickening the non-aqueous portions of thecomposition. In certain embodiments, the composition is not an emulsion.

Thickeners can be divided into organic and inorganic thickeners. Organicthickeners include (1) cellulosic thickeners and their derivatives, (2)natural gums, (3) acrylates, (4) starches, (5) stearates, and (6) fattyacid alcohols. Inorganic thickeners include (7) clays, and (8) salts.Some non-limiting examples of cellulosic thickeners includecarboxymethyl hydroxyethylcellulose, cellulose, hydroxybutylmethylcellulose, hydroxyethylcellulose, hydroxypropylcellulose,hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose, methylcellulose, microcrystallinecellulose, sodium cellulose sulfate, and the like. Some non-limitingexamples of natural gums include acacia, calcium carrageenan, guar,gelatin, guar gum, hydroxypropyl guar, karaya gum, kelp, locust beangum, pectin, sodium carrageenan, tragacanth gum, xanthan gum, and thelike. Some non-limiting examples of acrylates include potassium aluminumpolyacrylate, sodium acrylate/vinyl alcohol copolymer, sodiumpolymethacrylate, and the like. Some non-limiting examples of starchesinclude oat flour, potato starch, wheat flour, wheat starch, and thelike. Some non-limiting examples of stearates include methoxyPEG-22/dodecyl glycol copolymer, PEG-2M, PEG-5M, and the like. Somenon-limiting examples of fatty acid alcohols include caprylic alcohol,cetearyl alcohol, lauryl alcohol, oleyl alcohol, palm kernel alcohol,and the like. Some non-limiting examples of clays include bentonite,magnesium aluminum silicate, magnesium trisilicate, stearalkoniumbentonite, tromethamine magnesium aluminum silicate, and the like. Somenon-limiting examples of salts include calcium chloride, sodiumchloride, sodium sulfate, ammonium chloride, and the like.

Some non-limiting examples of thickeners that thicken the non-aqueousportions of the composition include waxes such as candelilla wax,carnauba wax, beeswax, and the like, oils, vegetable oils and animaloils, and the like.

The composition may contain one thickener or a mixture of two or morethickeners. In certain embodiments the thickeners do not adversely reactwith the other components or compounds of the invention or otherwiserender the composition of the invention ineffective. It is understoodthat a person skilled in the art will know how to select an appropriatethickener and control any adverse reactions through formulating.

The amount of thickener present in the composition depends on thedesired viscosity of the composition. The composition may have aviscosity from about 100 to about 15,000 centipoise, from about 150 toabout 10,000 centipoise, and from about 200 to about 5,000 centipoise asdetermined using a Brookfield DV-II+rotational viscometer using spindle# 21 @ 20 rpm @ 70.degree. F. Accordingly, to achieve the desiredviscosities, the thickener may be present in the composition in anamount from about 0.001 wt. % to about 5 wt. % of the total composition,from about 0.01 wt. % to about 3 wt. %, and from about 0.05 wt. % toabout 2 wt. % of the total composition.

Thickeners from said classes of substances are generally available andare obtainable, for example, under the trade names Acusol®820(methacrylic acid (stearyl alcohol-20 EO) ester-acrylic acid copolymer,30% strength in water, Rohm & Haas), Dapral®-GT-282-S (alkyl polyglycolether, Akzo), Deuterol®polymer-11 (dicarboxylic acid copolymer, SchonerGmbH), Deuteron® XG (anionic heteropolysaccharide based onbeta-D-glucose, D-manose, D-glucuronic acid, Schoner GmbH), Deuteron®-XN(nonionogenic polysaccharide, Schoner GmbH), Dicrylan® thickener-O(ethylene oxide adduct, 50% strength in water/isopropanol, PfersseChemie), EMA®-81 and EMA®-91 (ethylene-maleic anhydride copolymer,Monsanto), thickener-QR-1001 (polyurethane emulsion, 19 21% strength inwater/diglycol ether, Rohm & Haas), Mirox®-AM (anionic acrylicacid-acrylic ester copolymer dispersion, 25% strength in water,Stockhausen), SER-AD-FX-1100 (hydrophobic urethane polymer, ServoDelden), Shellflo®S (high molecular weight polysaccharide, stabilizedwith formaldehyde, Shell) and Shellflo®-XA (xanthan biopolymer,stabilized with formaldehyde, Shell).

In addition to the previously mentioned constituents of the composition,one may also employ normal and conventional adjuvants, provided they donot adversely affect the properties of the detergent. Thus there may beused a cationic antibacterial agent, coloring agents and perfumes;polyethylene glycol, ultraviolet light absorbers such as the Uvinuls,which are products of GAF Corporation; pH modifiers; etc. The proportionof such adjuvant materials, in total will normally not exceed 15% byweight of the composition, and the percentages of illustrative examplesof such individual components will be about 5% by weight. Sodium formateor formalin or Quaternium 15 (Dowicil 75) can be included in the formulaas a preservative at a concentration of about 0.1 to about 4.0 wt. %.

The composition of the invention may, if desired, also contain othercomponents either to provide additional effect or to make the productmore attractive to the consumer. The following are mentioned by way ofexample: colors or dyes in amounts up to about 0.5% by weight;bactericides in amounts up to about 1% by weight; preservatives orantioxidizing agents, such as formalin, 5-bromo-5-nitro-dioxan-1,3;5-chloro-2-methyl-4-isothaliazolin-3-one, 2,6-di-tert.butyl-p-cresol, inamounts up to about 2% by weight; pH adjusting agents, such as sulfuricacid or sodium hydroxide, as needed; perfumes or oils in amounts up toabout 5% by weight. Furthermore, if opaque compositions are desired, upto about 4% by weight of an opacifier may be added.

The compositions of the present invention have a wide number ofapplications such as home care applications, industrial andinstitutional applications.

Examples of home care applications include products such as: home careand industrial and institutional applications, such as laundrydetergents; dishwashing detergents (automatic and manual); hard surfacecleaners; hand soaps, cleaners and sanitizers; polishes (shoe,furniture, metal, etc.); automotive waxes, polishes, protectants, andcleaners, and the like.

The present cleaning compositions are readily made by simple mixingmethods from readily available components which, on storage, do notadversely affect the entire composition. Solubilizing agent such asethanol, hexylene glycol, sodium chloride and/or sodium xylene or sodiumxylene sulfonate may be used to assist in solubilizing the surfactants.Because the compositions as prepared in certain embodiments are aqueousliquid formulations and since no particular mixing is required to formthem, the compositions are easily prepared simply by combining all theingredients in a suitable vessel or container. The order of mixing theingredients is not particularly important and generally the variousingredients can be added sequentially or all at once or in the form ofaqueous solutions of each or all of the surfactants can be separatelyprepared and combined with each other. It is not necessary to useelevated temperatures in the formation step and room temperature issufficient.

The viscosity of the composition desirably will be at least 100centipoise (cps) at room temperature, but may be up to 1,000 centipoiseas measured with a Brookfield Viscometer using a number 21 spindlerotating at 20 rpm. The viscosity of the light duty liquid compositionmay approximate those of commercially acceptable light duty liquidcompositions now on the market. The viscosity of the composition itselfremains stable on storage for lengthy periods of time, without colorchanges or settling out of any insoluble materials. The pH of thecomposition can be adjusted by the addition of a base such as Na₂O(caustic soda) to the composition.

The following examples illustrate liquid cleaning compositions of thedescribed invention. Unless otherwise specified, all percentages are byweight. The exemplified compositions are illustrative only and do nolimit the scope of the invention. Unless otherwise specified, theproportions in the examples and elsewhere in the specification are byweight. It will be understood by those of skill in the art that numerousand various modifications can be made without departing from the spiritof the present invention. Therefore, it should be clearly understoodthat the forms of the present invention described herein areillustrative only and are not intended to limit the scope of theinvention.

Various embodiments of the present invention are further illustrated inthe following non-limiting Example.

Example

The Example illustrates cleaning properties of Formulation 1, aformulation according to the present invention, as compared to aControl.

Formulation 1

Formulation 1 Ingredients (wt. %) Sodium C₁₂-C₁₃ Pareth Sulfate 1.2Lauryl/Myristyl amidopropylene diethylene amine oxide 0.3 Dobanol 91-2.50.3 Dobanol 91-8 0.696 Propylene Glycol n-Butyl Ether 2.5 DipropyleneGlycol monoButyl Ether 2.5 1-Hydroxyethylene diphosphonic acid, sodiumsalt 0.35 Perfume 0.33 Water Bal. pH 11Control

Ingredients Control (wt. %) C₁₄-C₁₇ Paraffin Sulfonate (anionicsurfactant) 0.5 Cocoamidopropyl betaine (zwitterionic surfactant) 0.45Ethanol 1 Dobanol 91-2.5 0.25 Dobanol 91-8 1.25 Propylene Glycol n-ButylEther 1 Dipropylene Glycol monoButyl Ether 2 Sodium Bicarbonate(alkaline builder) 0.5 Perfume 0.33 Water Bal. pH 8.5

The table below compares the auto-active cleaning results on burnt“Bratensauce” of the formula according to the present invention, whencompared to the Control. The higher the score, the more efficient theproduct.

The test was performed according to the following procedure:

-   -   1. 4 stainless steel dishes (diameter=5 cm) were soiled with        “Bratensauce” (Germany soil by Knorr. Ref. 1.4607) and heated in        an oven up to 200 degrees C. for 15 minutes.    -   2. The dishes were removed from the oven and allowed to cool        down at room Temperature for 1 hour before evaluation.    -   3. The surfaces of the dishes were covered with about 2.5 g of a        product according to the present invention, and the dishes were        then rinsed with water, and then allowed to dry overnight. 3        oven replicates were generated for each sample, for statistical        treatment.    -   4. Panelists (a total number of 8) were asked to evaluate the        surfaces after rinsing, giving scores from 0 (most soiled) to 10        (unsoiled). Results were statistically treated. Results are        shown in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Product pH Scores (2 Replicates) Composition of 11 8.11 7.14Example 1 Control 8.5 3.16 2.26

What is claimed is:
 1. A cleaning composition comprising: (i) 1 to 8% byweight of an anionic surfactant; (ii) 0.5 to 6% by weight of a nonionicsurfactant; (iii) 0.25 to 3% by weight of an amine oxide surfactant;(iv) a sequestering agent chosen from phosphonic acids having theformulae:R₁N[CH₂PO₃Na₂]₂ or R₁C(PO₃Na₂)OH wherein R₁ is-[(lower)alkylene]N[CH₂PO₃Na₂]₂ or a third CH₂PO₃Na₂ moiety, and R₂ isC₁-C₆ alkyl; a low molecular weight phosphonopolycarboxylic acid havingabout 2 to about 4 carboxylic acid moieties and about 1-3 phosphonicacid groups; 1-phosphono-1-methylsuccinic acid; phosphonosuccinic acid;2-phosphonobutane-1,2,4-tricarboxylic acid;1-hydroxyethylidene-1,1-diphosphonic acid (CH₃C(PO₃Na₂)₂OH); a amino[tri(methylenephosphonic acid)](N[CH₂PO₃Na_(2]) ₃); ethylenediamine[tetra(methylene-phosphonic acid)]; and2-phosphonobutane-1,2,4-tricarboxylic, and salts thereof; and (v) aglycol solvent, wherein the composition has a pH of 10 to
 12. 2. Thecomposition of claim 1, wherein the anionic surfactant is chosen fromalkyl sulfates, alkyl ether sulfates, alkaryl sulfonates, alkylsuccinates, alkyl sulfosuccinates, N-alkoyl sarcosinates, alkylphosphates, alkyl ether phosphates, alkyl ether carboxylates, alkylaminoacids, alkyl peptides, alkoyl taurates, carboxylic acids, acyl and alkylglutamates, alkyl isethionates, and alpha-olefin sulfonates, especiallytheir sodium, potassium, magnesium, ammonium and mono-, di- andtriethanolamine salts, and combinations thereof.
 3. The composition ofclaim 2, wherein the anionic surfactant is a sodium salt of C₁₂-C₁₃pareth sulfate.
 4. The composition of claim 1, wherein the nonionicsurfactant is a C₉-C₁₁ alcohol ethoxylate.
 5. The composition of claim4, wherein the C₉-C₁₁ alcohol ethoxylate has about 2.5 moles of ethyleneoxide.
 6. The composition of claim 4, wherein the C₉-C₁₁ alcoholethoxylate has about 8 moles of ethylene oxide.
 7. The composition ofclaim 1, wherein the at least one amine oxide surfactant is chosen fromsurfactants having the formula:

wherein R₁ is an alkyl, 2-hydroxyalkyl, 3-hydroxyalkyl, or3-alkoxy-2-hydroxypropyl radical in which the alkyl and alkoxy eachindependently contain from 8 to 18 carbon atoms; and R₂ and R₃ are eachindependently methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, 2-hydroxyethyl,2-hydroxypropyl, or 3-hydroxypropyl; and n is 0 to
 10. 8. Thecomposition of claim 7, wherein the amine oxide is a lauryl/myristylamido propyl amine oxide.
 9. The composition of claim 1, wherein thesequestering agent is 1-hydroxyethylene diphosphonic acid or a saltthereof.
 10. The composition of claim 1, wherein the glycol solvent ischosen from propylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol,diethylene glycol monoethyl ether, diethylene glycol monopropyl ether,diethylene glycol monobutyl ether, tripropylene glycol methyl ether,propylene glycol methyl ether (PM), dipropylene glycol methyl ether(DPM), propylene glycol methyl ether acetate (PMA), dipropylene glycolmethyl ether acetate (CPMA), propylene glycol n-butyl ether, dipropyleneglycol monobutyl ether, ethylene glycol n-butyl ether and ethyleneglycol n-propyl ether, and combinations thereof.
 11. The composition ofclaim 1, wherein the glycol solvent is a combination of propylene glycoln-butyl ether and dipropylene glycol monobutyl ether.
 12. The cleaningcomposition of claim 1, wherein the pH of the cleaning composition isabout
 11. 13. The cleaning composition of claim 1 comprising: (i) about1.2% by weight of one or more anionic surfactants; (ii) about 0.5 to 6%by weight of one or more nonionic surfactant; (iii) about 0.3% by weightof one or more amine oxides; (iv) about 0.01% to 10% of one or moresequestering agents; and (v) about 0.01% to 10% of one or more glycolsolvents.
 14. A method of cleaning a surface comprising contacting thesurface with a cleaning composition of claim
 1. 15. A cleaningcomposition comprising: a sodium salt of C₁₂-C₁₃ pareth sulfate, aC₉-C₁₁ alcohol ethoxylate having about 2.5 moles of ethylene oxide, aC₉-C₁₁ alcohol ethoxylate having about 8 moles of ethylene oxide, alauryl/myristyl amido propyl amine oxide, a 1-hydroxyethylenediphosphonic acid salt, and solvent comprising propylene glycol n-butylether and dipropylene glycol monobutyl ether.
 16. The cleaningcomposition of claim 15 comprising: about 1.2% by weight of the sodiumsalt of C₁₂-C₁₃ pareth sulfate, about 0.3% by weight of the C₉-C₁₁alcohol ethoxylate having about 2.5 moles of ethylene oxide, about 0.7%by weight of the C₉-C₁₁ alcohol ethoxylate having about 8 moles ofethylene oxide, about 0.3% by weight of the lauryl/myristyl amido propylamine oxide, about 0.35% by weight of a 1-hydroxyethylene diphosphonicacid sodium salt, and about 2.5% by weight of propylene glycol n-butylether, and about 2.5% by weight of dipropylene glycol monobutyl ether.17. The cleaning composition of claim 16, wherein the composition has apH of 10 to 12.